Trevon Bierria and Narbonne football team want to party like it’s 2012

Trevon Bierria remembered where he was two years ago when Narbonne handed Long Beach Poly its worst loss since 1916.

Bierria, then a sophomore, was on the sidelines when his brother Keishawn and the Gauchos destroyed Poly 56-0 in an outcome that left many at Narbonne’s field stunned and surprised.

“Nobody expected us to be the one that gave Poly that loss,” Bierria said. “I just remember how hungry my brother’s team was. They came on the field and dominated every play.”

Yet he was quick to point out this year’s team has not dwelt much on the past. When Narbonne heads to Veterans Stadium to face Poly tonight at 7:30 p.m., 2012 might as well be 1912 as far as the Gauchos are concerned.

“We’re not the same Narbonne team and Poly is not the same team,” said Bierria, now a senior defensive back. “We don’t want to be sidetracked, so we just focus on the present.”

It echoes the message Narbonne coach Manuel Douglas has preached to his team of not looking back but using this tough non-league schedule to prepare for the Marine League and City Section playoffs.

“2012 was two years ago. We want to win this game, but what’s necessary is we come to play and get better than we did last week,” Douglas said.

The Gauchos found success against Palos Verdes last week behind the arm of Roman Ale and the legs of Sean Riley, who had 124 of the team’s 266 rushing yards. After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, Narbonne’s defense held Palos Verdes to only 14 points over the next three quarters.

Narbonne will need a similar stand against Long Beach Poly, which dominated Crenshaw 54-14 in its season opener. Defensive end Joseph Wicker had five sacks, while Jeremy Calhoun had 197 total yards on offense as running back and wide receiver.

Wicker, along with All-American defensive back Iman Marshall, gives the Poly defense a stout, physical presence. But the Gauchos, who have a fast, physical defense of their own, welcome the chance to measure themselves.

“We’re going to come out and play our own defensive style, which is intense from snap to whistle,” Bierria said.

Big brother Keishawn is now a redshirt freshman at the University of Washington, where he started in the Huskies’ season opener at Hawaii last week. He gave his brother some quick advice: go hard and give your best effort.

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It’s a message Trevon has taken to heart as the voice of calm in the Narbonne secondary. He’s a product of the Gauchos program, having been a ball boy when his brother started his career and earned two City Section championship rings as a backup player. But to carve his own mark, he’s seeking a third ring.

“I don’t feel I contributed to those rings, so that makes me hungry. I want a ring that I earned and to be on the field when we win a City championship,” Bierria said.

His and the Gauchos’ journey continues through Long Beach as they seek another quality performance against a quality team.

“Another victory would be good, but it’s a step in the season,” Douglas said. “I feel like it’ll be a good, solid game.”